Systems and methods for rules based shipping

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods which implement a rules based engine for processing items for shipping are shown. Embodiments implement a series of rules that are executed in a particular order to address decision points in processing individual items of a plurality of items for shipping. A user interface adapted to allow a user to create rules, weigh or order the rules, revise rules, enable/disable rules, etc. is provided according to embodiments. By selecting and associating various rule parameters, such as conditions, operators, and/or outcomes, through the rules interface a user may create and revise rules as desired. The rules interface of embodiments provides a hierarchical rules environment in which the resulting rules are weighted or ordered for hierarchical implementation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/713,033 entitled “Systems and Methods forProviding Localized Functionality in Browser Based PostageTransactions,” filed Feb. 25, 2010; Ser. No. 12/354,466 entitled “Systemand Method for Printing Postage Indicia with Post-By Date,” filed Jan.15, 2009 and issued Jun. 5, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,195,579; Ser. No.10/862,058 entitled “Virtual Security Device,” filed Jun. 4, 2004; andSer. No. 12/273,384 entitled “System and Method for DynamicallyPartitioning a Postage Evidencing System,” filed Nov. 18, 2008, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to processing items for shipping and, moreparticularly, to providing rules based shipping processing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computer based systems for generating and printing postage indicia havebeen available for a number of years, see for example U.S. Pat. No.5,510,992 entitled “System and Method for Automatically Printing Postageon Mail” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,739 entitled “System and Method forRemote Postage Metering,” assigned to Stamps.com Inc. the assignee ofthe present application. Such computer based systems have largelyreplaced more traditional postage meters in many market segments becauseof the widespread availability of appropriate host systems, ease of use,etc. However, there remains room for advancement with respect to theoperation and use of such computer based systems in performing postagetransactions.

Many computer based postage indicia generation and printing systems,although providing a viable solution for home and small office use, arenot well suited for use by high volume shippers. For example, some suchsystems implement a client server computer based architecture whichtypically invokes a series of server calls from the client in order togenerate and print postage indicia. Such a series of server calls canrequire appreciable time to complete an individual shipping transaction(e.g., process a single item). Although this latency may be acceptablein many situations, it can result in unacceptable delays when a highvolume of items are to be processed for shipping.

Moreover, where a variety of different items are being processed forshipping (as opposed to a mass mailing of a same mail piece, forexample), a plurality of different decision points for each item aretypically implemented to appropriately process each individual item forshipping. For example, item information such as the weight and size ofthe item, class of service information such as first class, express,etc., and special delivery and handling information such as shipmenttracking, return receipt requested, registered delivery, etc. may besolicited for each item in order to appropriately process the item forshipping. Although computer based systems may provide processing inaccordance with a simple preference setting (e.g., a preference settingto default to a least expensive shipping option), such systemsheretofore have not addressed the various decision points in a manner toadequately facilitate high volume shipping of a variety of differentitems. That is, such a preference is merely a simple on/off or yes/noselection without providing any rules based operation for addressingvarious decision points.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems and methods which implementa rules based engine for processing items for shipping. Embodiments ofthe invention implement a series of rules that are executed in aparticular order to address decision points in processing individualitems of a plurality of items for shipping. Accordingly, operation of arules based engine of embodiments of the invention facilitatesprocessing of a variety of different items for shipping by a high volumeshipper.

Embodiments of the invention provide a user interface adapted to allow auser to create rules, weigh or order the rules, revise rules,enable/disable rules, etc. In operation of a rules interface accordingto embodiments, a user is presented with a plurality of conditions(e.g., as may be determined from or associated with raw shipping data,user defined data, derived data, etc.) from which various rules may beconstructed, revised, etc. The user of embodiments is additionallyprovided with a plurality of operators (e.g., logical operators,mathematical operators, etc.) by a rules interface for use inconstructing, revising, etc. rules herein. A rules interface ofembodiments further presents a user with a plurality of outcomes (e.g.,shipping processing decisions, determinations, etc.) for use inconstructing, revising, etc. rules. By selecting and associating variousof the foregoing rule parameters (i.e., conditions, operators, and/oroutcomes) through a rules interface a user may create and revise rulesas desired. For example, a rules interface may present the user with agraphical user interface from which various rule parameters may beselected and linked to provide desired rules.

Operation of a rules engine of embodiments of the invention thus allowsthe user to create one or more conditions from parameters (e.g.,conditions and operators) whereby, once all conditions are met, one ormore actions (e.g., user customizable actions) are enacted. The abilityto arrange the created rules in a specific order of execution, such asthrough operation of the aforementioned rules interface, facilitatesestablishing relationships among the rules to provide functionality farbeyond simple on/off or yes/no selection of an action.

Accordingly, a rules interface of embodiments provides a hierarchicalrules environment in which a plurality of rules are weighted or orderedfor hierarchical implementation. For example, a rules interface ofembodiments provides a graphical user interface in which a user isenabled to order a plurality of different rules in a graphical hierarchyconsistent with a desired hierarchical implementation.

Information used for determining various conditions may be provided by anumber of sources according to embodiments of the invention. Forexample, raw shipping data, such as item weight, address information,item size, shipping container type, item type, and the like, may beutilized by rules engines of embodiments. Additionally or alternatively,user defined data, such as customer category, quality of service,pricing category, delivery time category, and the like, may be utilizedby rules engines of embodiments. Moreover, derived data, such ascalculated rates, calculated delivery date/time, and the like, may beutilized by rules engines of embodiments of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention operate to provide automated rule creation,revision, recommendation, etc. For example, a rules based engine ofembodiments operates to analyze past shipping behavior of a user tocreate and recommend one or more rules, such as to provide processing ofitems for shipping in accordance with the user's historical shippingdecisions. Additionally or alternatively, rules based engines ofembodiments operate to compare item shipping processing performed by auser, including shipping processing performed using the rules basedengine, with available options in order to recommend one or more rulesor rule revisions, such as to provide the same or substantially the sameshipping results at less cost. A rules based engine may operate toanalyze various available information (e.g., item shipment trackinginformation, shipment volume information, customer order information,etc.) for providing automated rule creation, revision, recommendation,etc.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthe invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a system adapted according to embodiments of the inventionto implement shipping processing using a rules based engine; and

FIG. 2 shows a high level flow diagram of shipping processing using arules based engine according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows system 100 adapted according to embodiments of theinvention to implement shipping processing using a rules based engine asdescribed herein. In order to aid in understanding the concepts of thepresent invention, exemplary embodiments herein will be discussed withreference to operation of system 100 as a postage indicia generation andprinting system. However, it should be appreciated that the concepts ofthe present invention are applicable to systems operable to provideadditional or alternative functionality.

The illustrated embodiment of system 100 comprises user system 120operable to provide shipment processing with respect to items to beshipped, such as items 101 a-101 c. User system 120 may comprise asystem capable of independent operation and/or may comprise aclient/server configuration. For example, user system 120 may provideoperation independent of other systems of system 100, such as byoperating under control of a locally executed instruction set forproviding shipping processing. Additionally or alternatively, usersystem 120 may communicate with other systems of system 100, such asserver system 110 via network 150, to provide desired operation or someportion thereof. For example, although providing some independentshipping processing, user system 120 of embodiments is operable as apostage client and correspondingly server system 120 of embodiments isoperable as a postage server for generation of postage indicia inaccordance with shipping processing by user system 120. It should beappreciated that various operations provided by user system 120 asdescribed herein may be browser based, wherein functions are provided bya web server, downloadable applets, etc. Examples of browser software asmay be utilized according to embodiments of the invention includeINTERNET EXPLORER available from Microsoft Corporation, FIREFOXavailable from Mozilla Corporation, SAFARI available from Apple Inc.,and NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR available from Netscape communicationsCorporation.

User system 120 of embodiments comprises one or more processor-basedsystems operable to provide operation as described herein. For example,user system 120 may comprise a computer having a processor (e.g.,processors from the PENTIUM and/or XEON lines of processors availablefrom Intel Corporation), memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), readonly memory (ROM), magnetic memory, optical memory, flash memory, etc.),input/output apparatuses (e.g., display, keyboard, mouse, printer,etc.), and network interface (e.g., Ethernet interface, opticalinterface, T1 interface, etc.) operable under control of an instructionset defining operation as described herein. The illustrated embodimentof user system 120 includes scanner 121, operable to provide informationregarding physical items (e.g., items to be shipped), scale 122,operable to weigh physical items (e.g., items to be shipped), andprinter 123, operable to provide printing of information (e.g., postageindicia 102 a-102 c).

Server system 110 may likewise comprise one or more processor-basedsystems operable to provide server side operation. For example, serversystem 110 may comprise a computer having a processor (e.g., processorsfrom the PENTIUM and/or XEON lines of processors available from IntelCorporation), memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, magnetic memory, optical memory,flash memory, etc.), input/output apparatuses (e.g., display, keyboard,mouse, printer, etc.), and network interface (e.g., Ethernet interface,optical interface, T1 interface, etc.) operable under control of aninstruction set defining operation as a postage server and/or otherserver operation.

Network 150 may comprise one or more networks suitable for facilitatingcommunication between user system 120 and other systems, such as serversystem 110, other user systems, etc. For example, network 150 maycomprise a local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN),wide area network (WAN), wireless network, the public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN), the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc.

It should be appreciated that network 150 may include systems inaddition to server system 110 and user system 120, whether utilized inproviding functionality associated with server system 110 and usersystem 120 or separate therefrom. For example, network 150 may compriseadditional servers and user systems in addition to routers, gateways,bridges, repeaters, switches, caches, etc.

In operation according to embodiments of the invention, user system 120functions to provide a user interface for shipping processing.Accordingly, user system 120 may operate under control of an instructionset (e.g., one or more computer program) to collect raw data regardingitems to be shipped, user data regarding items to be shipped, etc.Additionally or alternatively, operation of user system 120 undercontrol of such an instruction set may derive data, such as to calculateshipping rates, delivery time frames, etc. Such operation of user system120 may be in cooperation with one or more other systems. For example,user system 120 may communicate with another of the shipper's systems,such as an order processing system, to obtain raw data regarding itemsto be shipped, with a system of another entity, such as server system120, to obtain derived data, etc.

FIG. 2 shows a high level flow diagram of operation of system 100implementing shipping processing using a rules based engine according toembodiments herein. As described in detail below, operation in accordingto shipping processing flow 200 of FIG. 2 establishes a hierarchy ofshipping processing rules which, when implemented during shippingprocessing, are executed in a particular order to address decisionpoints in processing individual items for shipping. Accordingly,operation of a rules based engine in accordance with the embodiments ofFIG. 2 facilitates processing of a variety of different items forshipping by a high volume shipper.

At block 201 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 one or moreshipping processing rules are established using system 100. For example,embodiments of the invention provide a user interface, such as may bespecifically adapted as a rules interface, adapted to allow a user tocreate desired rules. A user may select a shipping rules tool within theuser interface and be provided a dialog box facilitating creation,management, organization, implementation, etc. of one or more shippingrules to provide shipping operation according to a user's needs anddesires. For example, the user may be given a list of various parametersfrom which to create rules. Additionally or alternatively, the user maybe given a list of rules (whether user created or otherwise provided)from which to choose desired rules to implement.

The user interface provided according to embodiments of the inventionprovides enhanced functionality for facilitating the creation,management, organization, implementation, etc. of shipping rules. Forexample, a user interface of embodiments provides a rules analysisfeature operable to allow a user to compare the results of implementingvarious different rules, different parameters within a rule, etc. A usermay, for example, be provided with an analysis option whereby aplurality of rules under consideration (or variations of one or morerules under consideration) are compared. Such analysis may utilizehistorical shipping data (e.g., the user's shipping data from aselectable window in time), simulated shipping data (e.g., data typicalto the user's situation), shipping data of other users of thetechnology, etc. to analyze operation of the rules under consideration(or variations of rules under consideration) to determine the results ofinvoking the rules (e.g., provide a cost comparison, a delivery timecomparison, etc.). A user may use this information in selectingparticular rules to implement, to optimize rules for providing desiredresults, and/or the like.

In operation according to embodiments, a user is presented with, orotherwise provided access to, a plurality of rule parameters from whichvarious rules may be constructed. Rule parameters utilized according toembodiments of the invention may comprise various different types ofparameters which, when linked or otherwise associated, define a shippingprocessing rule herein. For example, embodiments of such rule parametersinclude conditions, operators, and outcomes. Conditions of embodimentsof rule parameters comprise conditions which are determined from orassociated with raw shipping data, user defined data, derived data, etc.Operators of embodiments of rule parameters comprise logical operators,mathematical operators, etc. which are applicable with respect toconditions for making decisions and determinations. Outcomes ofembodiments of rule parameters comprise shipping processing decisions,determinations, etc. to be applied when a rule is met.

In operation according to embodiments, a user interacts with user system120 using the aforementioned user interface to establish desiredshipping processing rules. By selecting and associating various of theforegoing rule parameters (i.e., conditions, operators, and/or outcomes)through the rules interface a user may establish various desired rules.For example, a rules interface may present the user with a graphicaluser interface from which various rule parameters may be selected andlinked to provide desired rules.

By way of example, conditions such as “estimated delivery date isgreater than W days,” “customer type is gold,” “out of state shipment,”“intrastate shipment,” “average delivery time is less than X days,”“price is less than Y,” and “customer has been using the service forless than Z days,” operators such as “or,” “and,” “then,” “+,”, “−,”“>,” “<,” “=,” and outcomes such as “ship express mail,” “ship flatbox,” “ship non-flat rate box,” “ship express mail,” “ship cheapestavailable rate,” and “edit customer memo field to show package wasshipped” may be presented to a user. The user may select from suchconditions, operators, and outcomes to define various rules such as: “Ifestimated delivery date is greater than 30 days and customer type isgold then ship express mail and edit customer memo field to show packagewas shipped”; “If out of state shipment then ship flat rate box”; “Ifintrastate shipment then ship non-flat rate box”; “If price is less than$30 then ship express mail”; “If customer has been using the service forless than 30 days then ship express mail”; and “Ship cheapest availablerate and average delivery time is less than 2 days”.

Shipping processing rules utilized according to embodiments of theinvention are preferably based upon logical conditions, rather than hardcoded values. For example, rather than hard coding a particular size ofan item for a condition used in a shipping processing rule, thecondition may be established logically, such as “flat-rate box size”.Although additional data, such as a database storing size informationfor flat-rate boxes, may be utilized in such logical conditionscenarios, rule applicability may be more readily adapted for changes invarious underlying qualifications. For example, rather than revisingeach rule implementing a condition related to flat-rate box sizing whena change is made to flat-rate box size qualifications, an appropriatedatabase entry or entries may be changed and all associated shippingprocessing rule operation correspondingly updated.

It should be appreciated that shipping processing rules implementedaccording to embodiments of the invention may be established withoutdirect input by a user. For example, embodiments of the inventionprovide a rules based engine which operates to establish variousshipping processing rules automatically, such as using variousinformation available to the rules based engine.

Algorithms of a rules based engine providing automated rule creationaccording to embodiments operate to analyze past shipping behavior of auser to establish one or more shipping processing rules. For example,algorithms of a rules based engine may analyze historical informationwith respect to a user's shipping processing (e.g., past manual shippingprocessing) in order to create or revise one or more shipping processingrules operable to provide shipping in accordance with, or otherwiseapproximating, the user's historical shipping decisions. Such algorithmsmay operate to learn based upon operation of implemented rules, shippingresults, shipping data, etc. to establish or change rules (or to suggestnew rules or rule changes to a user).

Additionally or alternatively, a rules based engine providing automatedrule creation according to embodiments operates to compare item shippingprocessing determinations with available options to establish one ormore rules. For example, algorithms of a rules based engine may analyzea shipping processing determination (whether made manually by a user, inaccordance with the application of a shipping processing rule, etc.) andcompare attributes thereof (e.g., rate, delivery time frame, specialhandling, etc.) with attributes provided by alternative determinationsfor establishing alternative shipping processing rules. Rulesestablished by such an automated rule creation algorithm may operate toprovide the same or substantially the same attributes, improvedattributes, or combinations thereof. For example, one such shippingprocessing rule may operate to provide the same or substantially thesame shipping results (e.g., delivery time frame and special handling)at less cost.

A rules based engine providing automated rule create according toembodiments may additionally or alternatively operate to analyze variousavailable information for establishing one or more shipping processingrule. For example, algorithms of a rules based engine may analyzeinformation such as item shipment tracking information (e.g., actualdelivery time frames), shipment volume information (e.g., historicaland/or projected shipping volume metrics), customer order information(e.g., historical and/or projected customer order activity metrics),etc. in order to establish shipping processing rules facilitatingefficient, cost effective, and/or desirable for shipping processing by auser. By way of example, analysis of historical information may indicatethat several shipping selections result in deliveries in less than 2days (although perhaps the options which guarantee 2 day delivery arenot as numerous) and thus automated rule creation algorithms may createa rule such as “If 2 day delivery is selected then ship cheapestavailable rate and less than 2 day historical delivery.”

The foregoing rules are preferably presented, or otherwise madeavailable, for selection, implementation, etc. according to embodimentsof the invention to thereby provide an established set of shippingprocessing rules. For example, the aforementioned user interface maypresent a plurality of rules, created by one or more of the abovetechniques, for selection by a user to establish the desired shippingprocessing rules. Additionally or alternatively, algorithms ofembodiments may operate to automatically select particular rules toestablish the desired shipping processing rules. For example, theplurality of rules may be analyzed to identify conflicting rules (e.g.,rules wherein the same conditions present different outcomes) and toselect a rule of a conflicting set of rules which provides a mostdesired or “best” outcome, such as lowest cost, most rapid deliverytime, highest level of service, and/or the like. Thus, a set ofnon-conflicting rules may be selected to establish the desired shippingprocessing rules.

After establishing shipping processing rules at block 201, a hierarchyof the shipping processing rules is established at block 202 of theillustrated embodiment using system 100. For example, the aforementioneduser interface of embodiments provides a graphical user interface inwhich a user is enabled to order the established shipping processingrules in a graphical hierarchy consistent with a desired hierarchicalimplementation. A user may interact with the user interface to select arule and move the rule into a position in a graphical hierarchyrepresentative of the desirability, applicability, etc. of the rule.Additionally or alternatively, the rules may be weighted according toone or more aspects thereof and thus placed in a hierarchy in accordancewith such weighting. For example, numerical weighting may be assigned tothe desirability, applicability, etc. of particular aspects (e.g.,particular conditions, particular outcomes, etc.) whereby such numericalweighting (whether with respect to a single aspect or aggregated for aplurality of aspects of a rule) is used at least in part to establish arule hierarchy. Such weighting may, for example, be used to establish ashipping processing rules hierarchy automatically using algorithmsoperable upon system 100.

Regardless of the particulars of how it is accomplished according toembodiments, the foregoing hierarchical implementation preferablyestablishes an environment in which a plurality of rules are weighted orordered for hierarchical implementation. Thus, for example, a mostdesired shipping processing rule (e.g., providing a most desired outcomewith respect to particular conditions) may be placed highest in thehierarchy and a less desired shipping processing rule (e.g., providing aless desired outcome with respect to particular conditions) may beplaced lower in the hierarchy to thereby define an application ofshipping processing rules operable to invoke less desired rules only ifmore desired rules are not found to be applicable to the particularconditions present. By way of example, a hierarchy of rules maycomprise: “If customer type is gold then ship express mail”; “Ifcustomer order is greater than $50 then ship express mail”; and “Ifcustomer has been using the service for less than 30 days then shippriority mail.”

At block 203 of the illustrated embodiment shipping processing isperformed by system 100 with respect to individual items (e.g., 101a-101 c) by invoking the shipping processing rules in accordance withthe shipping processing rules hierarchy. For example, as an individualitem is processed user terminal 120 may analyze information fordetermining various conditions relevant to the established shippingprocessing rules. The determined conditions may be utilized with respectto rules of the established hierarchy, using the operators of aparticular applied rule, to determine if a particular outcome is to beapplied with respect the item. Each rule of the shipping processingrules hierarchy may be traversed in turn until the determined conditionsindicate an outcome through applicability of one or more rules.

Information used for determining various conditions may be provided by anumber of sources according to embodiments of the invention. Forexample, raw shipping data may be provided in the form of item weight,address information (e.g., origination address, destination address,shipping hub location, etc.), item size (e.g., length, width, height,girth, etc.), shipping container type (e.g, envelope, standard box,non-standard box, pallet, etc.), item type (e.g., book, hazardousmaterial, glass, perishable, etc.), and/or the like, as may be providedby scanner 121, scale 122, user input, database entries stored withinsystem 100, etc. Additionally or alternatively, user defined data may beprovided in the form of customer category (e.g., bronze, silver, gold,etc.), quality of service (e.g., good, better, best, etc.), pricingcategory (e.g., economy, standard, premium, etc.), delivery timecategory (e.g., any time, priority, overnight, etc.), and/or the like,as may be provided by user input, database entries stored within system100, etc. Moreover, derived data may be provided in the form ofcalculated rates, calculated delivery date/time, and/the like, as may beprovided by algorithms of system 100. Detail with respect to calculationof some forms of derived data as may be utilized according toembodiments of the invention is provided in the above referenced UnitedStates patent application entitled “Systems and Methods for ProvidingLocalized Functionality in Browser Based Postage Transactions.”

Performance of shipping processing at block 203 preferably implementsone or more outcomes as indicated by applicable shipping processingrules for each item. Such outcomes may, for example, provide forgeneration of a corresponding postage indicia, such as using server 110,user terminal 120, and printer 123. Detail with respect to techniquesfor generating and printing postage indicia as may be utilized accordingto embodiments of the invention is provided in the above referencedUnited States patent applications entitled “System and Method forPrinting Postage Indicia with Post-By Date,” “Virtual Security Device,”and “System and Method for Dynamically Partitioning a Postage EvidencingSystem.”

The postage indicia may comprise an appropriate postage amount, serviceclass, special handling instructions, etc. Performance of an outcome mayinclude generation of documents in addition to or in alternative to theaforementioned postage indicia, such as bills of lading, specialdelivery instructions, waybills, manifests, shipping labels, invoices,shipping records, etc. It should be appreciated that various outcomesmay result in items being shipped using different shipping serviceproviders (e.g., United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service,Federal Express, etc.), and thus a particular outcome may invokedifferent processes and/or systems of system 100 to implement anindicated result. Accordingly, application of the shipping processingrules in accordance with the established shipping processing ruleshierarchy by a shipping processing rules engine of embodiments resultsin the collection of parameters, such as conditions data, and performingservice commitment decisions with actions as a result of the identifiedoutcomes.

Performance of an outcome may, according to embodiments, not resultdirectly in completed shipping processing of an item. For example,operation of a shipping processing rules engine of embodiments maydetermine that no established shipping processing rule applies or anestablished shipping processing rule which does apply has an outcomedefining a result, whereby the item it identified for manual shippingprocessing or other processing beyond the operation of a shippingprocessing rules engine.

From the above, it can be appreciated that operation of a shippingprocessing rules engine may provide shipping processing with respect toa plurality of items, making appropriate service commitment decisions,thereby saving the user from having to make such decisions on a case bycase basis. Thus, embodiments of system 100 operating in accordance withshipping processing flow 200 serves high volume shippers in particular.

Although operation of flow 200 has been described above with referenceto the creation and application of shipping processing rules, operationin accordance with embodiments may revise/edit rules, enable/disablerules, etc. For example, operation at blocks 201 and 202 of embodimentsof shipping processing flow 200 may allow a user and/or automatedalgorithms to revise previously created rules and revise weighing orordering of the rules.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present invention.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for generating shipping rules configuredto make shipping decisions on behalf of a user, said method comprising:compiling, by a processor-based system of a shipping services operator,raw shipping data based on shipments made by a plurality of shippers,wherein, for each of the shipments made by the plurality of shippers,the raw shipping data comprises at least one of shipment weightinformation, address information, shipment size information, shippingcontainer type information, and item type information; compiling, by theprocessor-based system, user defined data comprising informationassociated with at least one of one or more customer categories, one ormore pricing categories, one or more delivery time categories, and oneor more quality of service levels provided to said processor-basedsystem by said user; deriving information associated with one or moreshipments to generate derived data, the derived data comprising at leastone of calculated shipping rates, delivery dates, and delivery times;automatically constructing, by said processor-based system for saiduser, a plurality of shipping processing rules for making shippingdecisions, wherein the plurality of shipping processing rules areconstructed based on rule parameters and a data set, wherein the ruleparameters comprise conditions and operators, the conditions comprisingshipping attribute information for making shipping processing decisions,determinations, or both, the operators comprising at least one oflogical operators and mathematical operators that are applied to saidconditions to make said shipping processing decisions, determinations,or both, determinations, or both, wherein the data set comprises the rawshipping data, the user defined data, and the derived data, and whereinconstructing, by said processor-based system, the plurality of shippingprocessing rules comprises constructing at least one shipping processingrule configured to select, based on an amount of time that a customerhas been using a service offered by said user, a type of shippingservice for shipment of an item purchased from said user by saidcustomer; analyzing, by said processor-based system, the plurality ofshipping processing rules to select shipping processing rules thatdefine a set of shipping processing rules for generating postage indiciafor said user, wherein said set of shipping processing rules includessaid at least one shipping processing rule constructed based, at leastin part, on said amount of time that said customer has been using saidservice, wherein said analyzing comprises: analyzing, by saidprocessor-based system, said plurality of shipping processing rules toidentify whether a conflict exists between at least two shippingprocessing rules, wherein a conflict is identified based on adetermination that applying the same conditions to said at least twoshipping processing rules presents different shipping decisions; andautomatically resolving, by said processor-based system, said conflictbetween said at least two shipping processing rules based on a conflictresolution parameter that specifies an outcome criterion, whereinautomatically resolving the conflict comprises: identifying, by saidprocessor-based system, a particular shipping processing rule of the atleast two shipping processing rules that satisfies the outcomecriterion, wherein, when the outcome criterion is a time-based outcomecriterion, the particular shipping processing rule of the at least twoshipping processing rules that satisfies the outcome criterioncorresponds to a shipping processing rule that provides a most rapiddelivery time, wherein, when the outcome criterion is a cost-basedoutcome criterion, the particular shipping processing rule of the atleast two shipping processing rules that satisfies the outcome criterioncorresponds to a shipping processing rule that provides a lowestshipping cost, wherein, when the outcome criterion is a level ofservice-based outcome criterion, the particular shipping processing ruleof the at least two shipping processing rules that satisfies the outcomecriterion corresponds to a shipping processing rule that provides ahighest level of service; and selecting, by said processor-based system,the particular shipping processing rule that satisfies the outcomecriterion for inclusion in the set of shipping processing rules; andgenerating a postage indicium for an item to be shipped, wherein saidgenerating comprises: receiving shipping information for said item to beshipped, and utilizing said set of shipping processing rules and saidshipping information to generate said postage indicium for said item tobe shipped.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: constructing,by said processor-based system for said user, at least one additionalshipping processing rule based on preferences of another user.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein said preferences of said another user are notdefined by said another user inputting shipping information, butinstead, said preferences of said another user are determined by saidprocessor-based system analyzing said raw shipping data.
 4. The methodof claim 2 further comprising: selecting said at least one additionalshipping processing rule constructed based on said preferences of saidanother user in said set of shipping processing rules for generatingpostage indicia for said user.
 5. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: establishing a hierarchy of said plurality of shippingprocessing rules.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least a portion ofsaid hierarchy is automatically established by said processor-basedsystem.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of shippingprocessing rules are generated based, at least in part, on an analysisby said processor-based system, of previous shipments by said user,wherein said previous shipments are limited to a particular set ofprevious shipments by said user.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein saidprevious shipments by said user are limited based on a window of time.9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: constructing, by saidprocessor-based system for said user, at least one other shippingprocessing rule based on simulated shipping data.
 10. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: receiving, from at least one carrier,shipping options offered by said carrier, wherein said plurality ofshipping processing rules are further constructed based on at least oneof said received shipping options.
 11. The method of claim 1 whereinsaid user is a high volume shipper, and wherein said processor-basedsystem is configured to modify said plurality of shipping processingrules based on a shipping behavior of said user, said method furthercomprising: analyzing, by said processor-based system, previousshipments by said user over a period of time to learn said shippingbehavior of said user; and revising, by said processor-based system, oneor more of said plurality of shipping processing rules based on saidlearning, wherein revising said one or more of said plurality ofshipping processing rules comprises: modifying, for each of said one ormore of said plurality of shipping processing rules, at least one ofsaid conditions and said operators to generate one or more modifiedshipping processing rules.
 12. A system configured to make shippingprocessing decisions on behalf of a user, said system comprising: arules engine configured to create, for said user, a set of shippingprocessing rules for making shipping decisions for said user, whereinsaid set of shipping processing rules is generated by: automaticallyconstructing a plurality of shipping processing rules based on ruleparameters and a data set, wherein the rule parameters compriseconditions and operators, wherein the conditions comprise shippingattribute information for making shipping processing decisions,determinations, or both, and the operators comprise at least one oflogical operators and mathematical operators that are applied to saidconditions to make said shipping processing decisions, determinations,or both, wherein the data set comprises: raw shipping data comprising atleast one of shipment weight information, address information, shipmentsize information, shipping container type information, and item typeinformation, user defined data comprising information associated with atleast one of one or more customer categories, one or more pricingcategories, one or more delivery time categories, and one or morequality of service levels provided by said user, and derived datacomprising at least one of calculated shipping rates, delivery dates,delivery times, and wherein construction of the plurality of shippingprocessing rules by said rules engine comprises constructing at leastone shipping processing rule configured to select, based on an amount oftime that a customer has been using a service offered by said user, atype of shipping service for shipment of an item purchased from saiduser by said customer; analyzing the plurality of shipping processingrules to define said set of shipping processing rules, wherein said setof shipping processing rules includes said at least one shippingprocessing rule constructed based, at least in part, on said amount oftime that said customer has been using said service, wherein saidanalyzing comprises: analyzing, by a processor-based system, saidplurality of shipping processing rules to identify whether a conflictexists between at least two shipping processing rules, wherein aconflict is identified based on a determination that applying the sameconditions to said at least two shipping processing rules presentsdifferent shipping decisions; and automatically resolving, by saidprocessor-based system, said conflict between said at least two shippingprocessing rules based on a conflict resolution parameter that specifiesan outcome criterion, wherein automatically resolving the conflictcomprises: identifying, by said processor-based system, a particularshipping processing rule of the at least two shipping processing rulesthat satisfies the outcome criterion, wherein, when the outcomecriterion is a time-based outcome criterion, the particular shippingprocessing rule of the at least two shipping processing rules thatsatisfies the outcome criterion corresponds to a shipping processingrule that provides a most rapid delivery time, wherein, when the outcomecriterion is a cost-based outcome criterion, the particular shippingprocessing rule of the at least two shipping processing rules thatsatisfies the outcome criterion corresponds to a shipping processingrule that provides a lowest shipping cost, wherein, when the outcomecriterion is a level of service-based outcome criterion, the particularshipping processing rule of the at least two shipping processing rulesthat satisfies the outcome criterion corresponds to a shippingprocessing rule that provides a highest level of service; and selecting,by said processor-based system, the particular shipping processing rulethat satisfies the outcome criterion for inclusion in the set ofshipping processing rules; and a computer processor configured toperform shipment processing for an item to be shipped, wherein saidshipment processing comprises: receiving shipping information for saiditem to be shipped, and utilizing said set of shipping processing rulesand said received shipping information to generate a postage indiciumfor said item to be shipped.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein saidcomputer processor is further configured to construct, for said user, atleast one additional shipping processing rule based on preferences ofanother user.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein said preferences ofsaid another user are not defined by said another user inputtingshipping information, but instead, said preferences of said another userare determined by analyzing past shipping behavior of said another user.15. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer processor configured toperform shipment processing further comprises: said computer processorbeing configured to utilize said at least one additional shippingprocessing rule and said received shipping information to generate saidpostage indicium for said item to be shipped.
 16. The system of claim 12wherein said set of shipping processing rules comprises at least twoshipping processing rules, and wherein said rules engine is furtheroperable to establish a hierarchy of said at least two shippingprocessing rules.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein at least a portionof said hierarchy is automatically established by said rules engine. 18.The system of claim 12 wherein said rules engine further constructs saidplurality of shipping processing rules based, at least in part, on ananalysis of previous shipments by said user, wherein said previousshipments are limited to a particular set of previous shipments by saiduser.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein said particular set of previousshipments by said user are limited based on a window of time.
 20. Thesystem of claim 12 wherein said rules engine is further configured tocreate, for said user, at least one other shipping processing rule basedon simulated shipping data.
 21. The system of claim 12 wherein saidrules engine is further configured to receive shipping options, whereinshipping options are shipping options that are offered by a carrier. 22.The system of claim 21 wherein said plurality of shipping processingrules are further created based on at least one of said receivedshipping options.
 23. The system of claim 12 wherein said system isconfigured to process mail items for a high volume shipper.
 24. A systemconfigured to make shipping decisions on behalf of a user, said systemcomprising: means for creating a data set comprising raw shipping data,user defined data, and derived data, wherein the raw shipping data iscreated based on shipments made by a plurality of shippers, wherein, foreach of the shipments made by the plurality of shippers, the rawshipping data comprises shipment weight information, addressinformation, shipment size information, shipping container typeinformation, item type information, or a combination thereof, whereinthe user defined data comprises information associated with one or morecustomer categories, one or more pricing categories, one or moredelivery time categories, one or more quality of service levels, or acombination thereof, wherein said user defined data is provided to saidsystem by users of said system, wherein said derived data comprisescalculated shipping rates, delivery dates, delivery times, or acombination thereof; means for creating, for said user, a plurality ofshipping processing rules for making shipping decisions using ruleparameters and said data set, wherein the rule parameters compriseconditions and operators, wherein the conditions comprise shippingattribute information for making shipping processing decisions,determinations, or both, wherein the operators comprise at least one oflogical operators and mathematical operators that are applied to saidconditions to make said shipping processing decisions, determinations,or both, and wherein creation of the plurality of shipping processingrules comprises creating at least one rule configured to select, basedon an amount of time that a customer has been using a service offered bysaid user, a type of shipping service for shipment of an item purchasedfrom said user by said customer; means for analyzing said plurality ofshipping processing rules to define a rules set for generating postageindicia for said user, wherein said rules set includes said at least onerule constructed based, at least in part, on said amount of time thatsaid customer has been using said service, said means for analyzingfurther comprising: means for analyzing said plurality of shippingprocessing rules to identify whether a conflict between two or moreshipping processing rules of said plurality of shipping processing rulesexists, wherein a conflict is identified based on a determination thatapplying the same conditions to said at least two shipping processingrules presents different shipping decisions; and means for automaticallyresolving said conflict between said two or more shipping processingrules based on a conflict resolution parameter that specifies an outcomecriterion, wherein said means for automatically resolving said conflictcomprises: means for identifying a particular shipping processing ruleof said two or more shipping processing rules that satisfies the outcomecriterion, the outcome criterion comprising at least one of: atime-based outcome criterion, a cost-based outcome criterion, and alevel of service-based outcome criterion, wherein, when the outcomecriterion is said time-based outcome criterion, the particular shippingprocessing rule of said two or more shipping processing rules thatsatisfies the outcome criterion corresponds to a shipping processingrule that provides a most rapid delivery time, wherein, when the outcomecriterion is said cost-based outcome criterion, the particular shippingprocessing rule of said two or more shipping processing rules thatsatisfies the outcome criterion corresponds to a shipping processingrule that provides a lowest shipping cost, wherein, when the outcomecriterion is said level of service-based outcome criterion, theparticular shipping processing rule of said two or more shippingprocessing rules that satisfies the outcome criterion corresponds to ashipping processing rule that provides a highest level of service; andmeans for selecting the particular shipping processing rule thatsatisfies the outcome criterion for inclusion in said rules set; andmeans for performing shipment processing of an item to be shipped,wherein said performing comprises: means for receiving information aboutsaid item to be shipped; and means for utilizing said rule set and saidreceived information to generate a postage indicium for said item to beshipped.
 25. The system of claim 24 further comprising: means forcreating at least one additional shipping processing rule for said userbased on preferences of another user.
 26. The system of claim 25 whereinsaid preferences of said another user are not defined by said anotheruser inputting shipping information, but instead, said preferences ofsaid another user are determined based on an analysis of previousshipments by said another user.
 27. The system of claim 26 wherein saidmeans for performing shipment processing further comprises: means forutilizing said at least one additional shipping processing rule and saidreceived information to generate said postage indicium for said item tobe shipped.
 28. The system of claim 24 further comprising: means forestablishing a hierarchy of said rules set.
 29. The system of claim 28wherein at least a portion of said hierarchy is automaticallyestablished by said means for analyzing said plurality of shippingprocessing rules to define said rules set.
 30. The system of claim 24,wherein said means for creating said plurality of shipping processingrules is further configured to generate said plurality of shippingprocessing rules based, at least in part, on an analysis, by said meansfor creating said plurality of shipping processing rules, of previousshipments by said user, and wherein said previous shipments by said userare limited to a particular set of previous shipments by said user. 31.The system of claim 30 wherein said particular set of previous shipmentsby said user are limited based on a window of time.
 32. The system ofclaim 24 further comprising: means for simulating shipping data tocreate, for said user, at least one other shipping processing rule. 33.The system of claim 24 further comprising: means for receiving, from atleast one carrier, shipping options offered by said at least onecarrier.
 34. The system of claim 33 wherein said plurality of shippingprocessing rules are further created based on at least one of saidreceived shipping options.
 35. The system of claim 24, wherein said useris a high volume shipper, and wherein said system further comprisesmeans for revising said plurality of shipping processing rules based ona shipping behavior of said user, said means for revising comprising:means for analyzing previous shipments by said user over a period oftime to learn said shipping behavior of said user; and means formodifying one or more of said plurality of shipping processing rulesbased on said learned shipping behavior of said user, wherein, for eachof said one or more of said plurality of shipping processing rules, saidmeans for modifying changes at least one of said conditions and saidoperators to generate one or more modified shipping processing rules.